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NEMC YASHIRIKIANA NA KITUO CHA SAYANSI NA MAZINGIRA INDIA KUTOA MAFUNZO YA UKAGUZI MAZINGIRA

NA EMMANUEL MBATILO, DAR ES SALAAM BARAZA la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC) limefanya warsha Maalumu kwa Kushirikiana na kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira kutoka India (CSE India) yenye lengo la kutambua namna ya mfumo wa ukaguzi wa mazingira unavyofanya kazi pamoja na kupeana uzoefu katika Usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira. Akizungumza na waandishi wahabari leo Januari 25,2024, Afisa Mazingira Mwandamizi kutoka NEMC Bw. Novatus Mushi amesema kuwa mchakato wa usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira unahitaji uelewa mpana zaidi na taaluma mbalimbali ili kufanya ubobevu mkubwa katika ukaguzi huo. "Ukaguzi wa mazingira lazima uhusishe wataalamu mbalimbali ili uweze kuzipata taarifa zote kwa ujumla wake ambazo utazihitaji kukuongoza katika ukaguzi wa mazingira ". Amesema Bw.Novatus. Amesema kuwa NEMC wataendelea kujifunza kwa wageni wa mataifa mengine kwa kubeba mazuri ambayo wanayo na kuboresha katika huduma zao wanazotoa. Kwa Upande wake Mkurugenzi wa Program ya Kupambana na Uchafuzi kutoka Viwandani Bw.Nivit Kumar wa Kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira India (CSE india) amesema kuwa anafikiri ni wakati sahihi kwa Mamlaka za Udhibiti wa Mazingira katika nchi za kiafrika kutumia ubunifu kuhifadhi mazingira ya nchi zao. Aidha ameeleza kuwa walipofanya utafiti waligundua ripoti za ukaguzi zilikuwa zikifanyika hazikuwa vizuri, hivyo wamejitahidi kuweka maelekezo vizuri jinsi ya kuchukua taarifa hizo. Naye Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Taasisi ya (ECI) kutoka Kenya Bw. Gerphas Opondo amesema kuwa changamoto ya uchafuzi zilizopo Kenya na Tanzania ni zilezile, ijapokuwa Sheria za Uhifadhi zipo lakini watu bado wanakiuka taratibu hizo. Warsha hiyo itafanyika kwa siku tatu na imejumuisha wadau mbalimbali kutoka mamlaka zinazosimamia mazingira kwenye mataifa mengine ya Afrika.

NEMC YASHIRIKIANA NA KITUO CHA SAYANSI NA MAZINGIRA INDIA KUTOA MAFUNZO YA UKAGUZI MAZINGIRA

NA EMMANUEL MBATILO, DAR ES SALAAM BARAZA la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC) limefanya warsha Maalumu kwa Kushirikiana na kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira kutoka India (CSE India) yenye lengo la kutambua namna ya mfumo wa ukaguzi wa mazingira unavyofanya kazi pamoja na kupeana uzoefu katika Usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira. Akizungumza na waandishi wahabari leo Januari 25,2024, Afisa Mazingira Mwandamizi kutoka NEMC Bw. Novatus Mushi amesema kuwa mchakato wa usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira unahitaji uelewa mpana zaidi na taaluma mbalimbali ili kufanya ubobevu mkubwa katika ukaguzi huo. "Ukaguzi wa mazingira lazima uhusishe wataalamu mbalimbali ili uweze kuzipata taarifa zote kwa ujumla wake ambazo utazihitaji kukuongoza katika ukaguzi wa mazingira ". Amesema Bw. Novatus. Amesema kuwa NEMC wataendelea kujifunza kwa wageni wa mataifa mengine kwa kubeba mazuri ambayo wanayo na kuboresha katika huduma zao wanazotoa. Kwa Upande wake Mkurugenzi wa Program ya Kupambana na Uchafuzi kutoka Viwandani Bw.Nivit Kumar wa Kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira India (CSE india) amesema kuwa anafikiri ni wakati sahihi kwa Mamlaka za Udhibiti wa Mazingira katika nchi za kiafrika kutumia ubunifu kuhifadhi mazingira ya nchi zao. Aidha ameeleza kuwa walipofanya utafiti waligundua ripoti za ukaguzi zilikuwa zikifanyika hazikuwa vizuri, hivyo wamejitahidi kuweka maelekezo vizuri jinsi ya kuchukua taarifa hizo. Naye Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Taasisi ya (ECI) kutoka Kenya Bw. Gerphas Opondo amesema kuwa changamoto ya uchafuzi zilizopo Kenya na Tanzania ni zilezile, ijapokuwa Sheria za Uhifadhi zipo lakini watu bado wanakiuka taratibu hizo. Warsha hiyo itafanyika kwa siku tatu na imejumuisha wadau mbalimbali kutoka mamlaka zinazosimamia mazingira kwenye

NEMC YASHIRIKIANA NA KITUO CHA SAYANSI NA MAZINGIRA INDIA KUTOA MAFUNZO YA UKAGUZI MAZINGIRA

NA EMMANUEL MBATILO, DAR ES SALAAM BARAZA la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC) limefanya warsha Maalumu kwa Kushirikiana na kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira kutoka India (CSE India) yenye lengo la kutambua namna ya mfumo wa ukaguzi wa mazingira unavyofanya kazi pamoja na kupeana uzoefu katika Usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira. Akizungumza na waandishi wahabari leo Januari 25,2024, Afisa Mazingira Mwandamizi kutoka NEMC Bw. Novatus Mushi amesema kuwa mchakato wa usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira unahitaji uelewa mpana zaidi na taaluma mbalimbali ili kufanya ubobevu mkubwa katika ukaguzi huo. "Ukaguzi wa mazingira lazima uhusishe wataalamu mbalimbali ili uweze kuzipata taarifa zote kwa ujumla wake ambazo utazihitaji kukuongoza katika ukaguzi wa mazingira ". Amesema Bw.Novatus. Amesema kuwa NEMC wataendelea kujifunza kwa wageni wa mataifa mengine kwa kubeba mazuri ambayo wanayo na kuboresha katika huduma zao wanazotoa. Kwa Upande wake Mkurugenzi wa Program ya Kupambana na Uchafuzi kutoka Viwandani Bw. Nivit Kumar wa Kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira India (CSE india) amesema kuwa anafikiri ni wakati sahihi kwa Mamlaka za Udhibiti wa Mazingira katika nchi za kiafrika kutumia ubunifu kuhifadhi mazingira ya nchi zao. Aidha ameeleza kuwa walipofanya utafiti waligundua ripoti za ukaguzi zilikuwa zikifanyika hazikuwa vizuri, hivyo wamejitahidi kuweka maelekezo vizuri jinsi ya kuchukua taarifa hizo. Naye Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Taasisi ya (ECI) kutoka Kenya Bw. Gerphas Opondo amesema kuwa changamoto ya uchafuzi zilizopo Kenya na Tanzania ni zilezile, ijapokuwa Sheria za Uhifadhi zipo lakini watu bado wanakiuka taratibu hizo. Warsha hiyo itafanyika kwa siku tatu na imejumuisha wadau mbalimbali kutoka mamlaka zinazosimamia mazingira kwenye mataifa mengine ya Afrika.

NEMC YASHIRIKIANA NA KITUO CHA SAYANSI NA MAZINGIRA INDIA KUTOA MAFUNZO YA UKAGUZI MAZINGIRA

BARAZA la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC) limefanya warsha Maalumu kwa Kushirikiana na kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira kutoka India (CSE India) yenye lengo la kutambua namna ya mfumo wa ukaguzi wa mazingira unavyofanya kazi pamoja na kupeana uzoefu katika Usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira. Akizungumza na waandishi wahabari leo Januari 25,2024, Afisa Mazingira Mwandamizi kutoka NEMC Bw. Novatus Mushi amesema kuwa mchakato wa usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa mazingira unahitaji uelewa mpana zaidi na taaluma mbalimbali ili kufanya ubobevu mkubwa katika ukaguzi huo. "Ukaguzi wa mazingira lazima uhusishe wataalamu mbalimbali ili uweze kuzipata taarifa zote kwa ujumla wake ambazo utazihitaji kukuongoza katika ukaguzi wa mazingira ". Amesema Bw.Novatus. Amesema kuwa NEMC wataendelea kujifunza kwa wageni wa mataifa mengine kwa kubeba mazuri ambayo wanayo na kuboresha katika huduma zao wanazotoa. Kwa Upande wake Mkurugenzi wa Program ya Kupambana na Uchafuzi kutoka Viwandani Bw.Nivit Kumar wa Kituo Cha Sayansi na Mazingira India (CSE india) amesema kuwa anafikiri ni wakati sahihi kwa Mamlaka za Udhibiti wa Mazingira katika nchi za kiafrika kutumia ubunifu kuhifadhi mazingira ya nchi zao. Aidha ameeleza kuwa walipofanya utafiti waligundua ripoti za ukaguzi zilikuwa zikifanyika hazikuwa vizuri, hivyo wamejitahidi kuweka maelekezo vizuri jinsi ya kuchukua taarifa hizo. Naye Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Taasisi ya (ECI) kutoka Kenya Bw. Gerphas Opondo amesema kuwa changamoto ya uchafuzi zilizopo Kenya na Tanzania ni zilezile, ijapokuwa Sheria za Uhifadhi zipo lakini watu bado wanakiuka taratibu hizo. Warsha hiyo itafanyika kwa siku tatu na imejumuisha wadau mbalimbali kutoka mamlaka zinazosimamia mazingira kwenye mataifa mengine ya Afrika.

CO level 81 times higher than safe limit in city, reveals CPCB data

Gurgaon: The level of carbon monoxide (CO) in the city is over 81 times the permissible limit, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CO concentration in the city on Tuesday varied between 139µg/m³ and 194µg/m³, while the safe limit is 1.7µg/m³. Experts said that heavy traffic on highways results in high CO levels. The city’s average CO level (calculated over eight hours) was 138µg/m³ on Tuesday. It was the highest at Sector 51 (194µg/m³), followed by Gwalpahari (123µg/m³), Teri Gram (112µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (108µg/m³). On Monday, Vikas Sadan recorded the highest CO levels at 89 µg/m³, followed by Sector 51 (78µg/m³) and Teri Gram (67 µg/m³). Data from the Gwalpahari station wasn’t available. CO is a toxic gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless, and doesn’t cause irritation, unlike other pollutants. It is produced when carbonaceous fuels like wood, diesel, petrol, coal, natural gas, kerosene, and stubble are incompletely burned. High concentrations of CO can cause breathlessness, difficulty in focusing and memory loss. It also affects the supply of oxygen to vital organs. “The greatest sources of CO in outdoor air are cars, trucks and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels. The data shows that when overall pollution levels are high, background emissions of CO too spike. High concentration of CO in the city is because of local factors like garbage burning and plying of diesel vehicles,” Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment, said. According to studies on air pollution, the NCR’s air quality is as terrible as smoking 40 cigarettes a day. The most frequent causes of the rise in air pollution include open burning of agricultural waste (called stubble burning), exhaust from moving cars, and hazardous chemicals released by industrial waste. Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials said diesel vehicles are primarily responsible for high CO levels. “During winter, firewood burning at construction sites by workers at night is also a major contributor. Also, continuous movement of vehicles on the highways passing through the city day and night is also a big concern,” said Vijay Chaudhary, the HSPCB regional officer. It's not just CO — the city’s particulate matter levels too have breached safe limits several times over. On Tuesday, the PM2.5 level was highest in Sector 51 (298 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (274 µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (245 µg/m³). PM10 emissions were the highest at Sector 51 (285µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (244µg/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn’t record PM10 data. According to the CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40µg/m³ and 60µg/m³, respectively. Meanwhile, the city’s AQI continued to stay in the ‘poor’ category for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday with an overall reading of 270, up from Monday’s 245. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research said surface winds with speeds ranging from 4kmph to 12kmph are expected in the region for the next six days, and the AQI is likely to stay ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. According to guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, when AQI is in the ‘moderate’ category, people with asthma and lung or heart disease can face breathing discomfort. In ‘poor’ AQI, breathing discomfort can be felt by most people on prolonged exposure. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor', and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

Low-nutrient, high-toxin rice and wheat in Indian diets: reports

A recent study led by scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) suggests that the rice and wheat Indians are eating today might have low nutritional value. “For the past 50 years, India has been introducing high-yielding rice and wheat varieties at breakneck speed to achieve food security. The ICAR-led study has examined the food value of these modern grains and reports that breeding programmes focused on developing high-yielding varieties have altered the nutrient profiles of rice and wheat — to the extent that their dietary and nutritional value has gone down,” says the magazine. The study has gone ahead to assess the health impact of this “historical shift” in nutrient profiles of rice and wheat, and warns that the impoverished staple grains could worsen the country’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Down To Earth and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE, which publishes the magazine) organised a webinar here today to discuss how the magazine covered the new study. The panel included Sovan Debnath, the Soil Scientist from ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi and the lead author of the study, Biswapati Mandal, former Professor from Directorate of Research, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani and the co-author of the study, Ishi Khosla, a Clinical Nutritionist, Consultant and Writer, and Shagun, a Senior Correspondent from Down To Earth. When the Green Revolution began in India, it aimed to feed the rapidly growing population and become self-sufficient in food production. Therefore, agricultural scientists mainly motivated to improve the yield. Speaking at the webinar, Dr Mandal said: “After the 1980s, the focus of breeders shifted to developing varieties that were resistant to pests and diseases and tolerant to stresses such as salinity, moisture and drought. They did not have the luxury of thinking whether the plants were taking in nutrients from the soil or not. Hence, over some time, what we are seeing is that plants have lost their capacity to take up nutrients from the soil.” Scientists from ICAR and Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya conducted a study in 2021, which the 2023 study extends. The study investigated the reasons for zinc and iron deficiency in populations dependent on a cereal diet. When tested, the high-yielding cultivars of rice and wheat revealed a downward trend in zinc and iron grain density. Says Debnath, who was one of the scientists behind the 2021 study as well: “Our experiments showed that modern-bred cultivars of rice and wheat are less efficient in sequestering nutrients like zinc and iron, despite their availability in soil.” Green Revolution impacts global nutritional security A 2021 study revealed that the rise in zinc and iron deficiency in the global population over the past four decades has coincided with the worldwide spread of high-yielding cereal varieties introduced after the Green Revolution. According to a report by Down To Earth, the concentration of vital nutrients like zinc and iron has dropped by 33% and 27% in rice, and by 30% and 19% in wheat, respectively, over the past 50 years. Alarmingly, the concentration of arsenic, a poisonous element, in rice has surged by 1,493%. The report states that our staple grains are not only less nutritious but also harmful to health. Due to continuous genetic modifications in modern breeding programs, plants have also lost their natural evolutionary defenses against toxins. Essential nutrient loss in staple grains could heighten disease prevalence in neurological, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems. Down To Earth’s Shagun stated in a webinar that Green Revolution’s agricultural practices, often criticized for environmental effects, are rarely discussed beyond soil degradation, water pollution, groundwater depletion, and mono-cropping. This study focuses on the Green Revolution’s impact on India’s nutritional security. Efforts are under way in the country to enhance foodgrain nutrition via landraces and wild species. Under the Union government’s bio-fortification project, ICAR scientists and others are exploring germplasm for high-nutrition donor varieties. So far, they’ve developed 142 bio-fortified varieties, but these are yet to gain wide acceptance among farmers, says Shagun. “Scientists Down To Earth say that bio-fortification of other essential elements like manganese, copper, and calcium will take some time because breeding and releasing any variety is a long and arduous task. Shagun says, “Rice and wheat are staple foods for the majority of India’s population. The significance of our report lies in the context of the health impacts that impoverished grains can lead to.”

Alarming Study Reveals Shocking Truths About Indian Rice And Wheat - Are You At Risk?

Alarming Study Reveals Shocking Truths About Indian Rice And Wheat - Are You At Risk?The report on the study highlights a disconcerting finding: the rice and wheat consumed by Indians might be of low nutritional value and contain toxins.Posted by Neha GroverUpdated: January 24, 2024 17:53 ISTRead Time:2 min Alarming Study Reveals Shocking Truths About Indian Rice And Wheat - Are You At Risk? Wheat are rice are commonly used grains.Photo Credit: iStockHighlightsEvery Indian household uses wheat and rice extensively.We generally consider these grains safe to use.But the findings of the latest research will raise concerns. In an alarming study led by scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a stark reality has come to light: the high-yield varieties of rice and wheat, staples of the Indian diet, are not only losing their nutritional value but are also accumulating harmful toxins. The revelations, detailed in Down To Earth, have raised concerns about the impact on public health. The report on the study highlights a disconcerting finding: the rice and wheat consumed by Indians might be of low nutritional value.Breeding Programs Altering Nutrient ProfilesFor the past five decades, India has rapidly introduced high-yielding rice and wheat varieties to bolster food security. However, the ICAR-led study signals a distressing shift in the nutrient profiles of these modern-bred grains. Breeding programs aimed at increasing yields have inadvertently led to a drastic decline in essential micronutrients like zinc and iron, diminishing the dietary significance of these staples.

MCD to take fresh look at parking plan for 15 areas in Delhi

The parking area management plans were a crucial component of the Delhi Maintenance and Management of Parking Places Rules The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to launch a fresh survey in 15 localities to draft parking area management plans in order to streamline parking and remove congestion, senior civic officials aware of the development said on Monday. These localities include Anand Lok, Aurobindo Marg, Geetanjali Enclave, Green Park Extension, Gulmohar Park, Safdarjung Development Area, Kailash Hills, Niti Bagh, and Panchsheel Enclave. The parking area management plans were a crucial component of the Delhi Maintenance and Management of Parking Places Rules, which were notified in September 2019. The civic bodies that administered these areas conducted surveys to draw localised plans, but they were never implemented due to a lack of consensus between various stakeholders. The Master Plan of Delhi 2021 envisaged the Parking Management District (PMD) Plan that was adapted by city planners as Paring Management Area Plan (PMAP). According to MPD 2021, parking management must be effectively used as a tool to reduce overall demand for parking space and the objective of PMAP is to provide comprehensive facilities for all modes including pedestrians, non-motorised transport, cycle tracks, vending zones, bus stops, public amenities in addition to on-street and off-street parking for private vehicles. A senior MCD official explained that PMAP was supposed to provide area-specific solutions for parking management in residential and commercial areas. “The parking policy had authorised the erstwhile municipal corporations to make parking management area plans with neighbourhood-specific solutions while ensuring rights of pedestrians, cyclists, emergency vehicles and vendors. Most of these draft plans were made for south Delhi areas,” the official added. The erstwhile South MCD conducted a survey between 2020 and 2021 in 17 areas to map parking issues there and find solutions. They were placed in the public domain for feedback in June 2021. However, more than three years after the first set of such plans was drawn up and shared with the residents, they are yet to be implemented in 15 areas. According to civic officials the plans were implemented in Lajpat Nagar Market and Lajpat Nagar 3, but residents and shopkeepers said there has been no improvement on the ground. “These parking area management plans were kept for public feedback in June 2021 and later submitted to the transport department for approval. The ground situation must have changed over the last three years and these plans will need to be modified accordingly. We have decided to conduct fresh survey in these neighbourhoods,” said a senior MCD official, on condition of anonymity. Besides PMAPs, several other features of parking policy have still not been implemented in the city such as framing dynamic parking pricing for peak and non-peak hours. Delhi has more than 20 million residents and 7.7 million registered vehicles (according to Delhi economic survey, 2022-23). However, the city faces an acute lack of parking space with most residents across Delhi localities parking their vehicles on colony roads and pavements. MCD operates 417 parking lots with space to accommodate nearly 50,000 cars. Pankaj Aggarwal, a member of Safdarjung RWA, said that the vehicle occupancy has increased manyfold with more dwelling units on each floor and people fight over parking space. “Authorities need to earmark and ration the space in residental colonies and mark common parking areas to regulate the process. Also, though the Metro has improved access to other parts of the city, last mile connectivity is poor. Footpaths have been encroached upon, leaving no space for residents to walk safely,” he said. However, officials said that a lack of political will, competing interests between RWAs and market associations, as well as repeated disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have ensured that these plans have largely remained on paper. When asked about the reasons behind the revival of the local parking plans, mayor Shelly Oberoi did not immediately offer a comment. AAP MCD in-charge and Rajinder Nagar MLA Durgesh Pathak said the previous plans had flaws and were finalised without enough public participation. Ashok Marwah, general secretary of the Lajpat Nagar market association, said that the space allocation and parking plan is being followed in the on-street parking, but problems are being faced in residential pockets since there was no consensus over common parking spaces between residents and shop owners. Marwah said that the market association is managing the parking based on an MoU with the civic body. A senior transport department official said that it is reviewing the whole framework and making the planning process more participatory. “We tried to notify four of these Parking Management Area Plans which were to be executed by MCD but there were challenges from RWAs and market associations when MCD went to implement them on ground. We shall be reviewing the whole parking framework and make the planning more participatory through MCD to ensure effective implementation,” the official said. Talking about the importance of localised plans, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “Implementation of PMAP is necessary. While organising and managing parking demand, they also help reduce demand for parking. Area-based plans help organise street activities and road users while identifying legal parking areas. This also enables variable pricing to reduce peak demand.”

Making a Business Case for the Most Promising Waste Conversion Technologies

Innovations that convert waste into valuable products offer investors a meaningful opportunity toward sustainable investing. Many discussions about sustainability focus solely on carbon emissions — but that's only a piece of the puzzle. If the world is to transition to a greener, more sustainable future, we also need to deal with over 2.1 billion tons of waste per year. To that end, innovations in waste conversion technology are a compelling way forward. Emerging waste conversion technologies have not only enhanced the business case for sustainable waste management but are also paving the way for meaningful revenue opportunities, contributing to waste reduction, and supporting the circular economy. Understanding these technologies and their business value is, therefore, an important first step toward sustainable investing. Turning trash into treasure Our society produces a great deal of waste. Despite ongoing sustainability initiatives, most of it ends up rotting in a landfill or polluting the atmosphere. Data from the World Bank indicates at least 33 percent of the solid waste generated each year is buried in a landfill and only 8 percent of landfills dispose of waste in an environmentally sustainable manner. The rest bury or dispose of trash in a way that may contaminate groundwater, create air pollution, adversely affect wildlife, and even impact human health. Liquid waste is even more challenging, requiring infrastructure and expertise that many businesses lack. And with waste production slated to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050, not only is the world running out of time; it’s also almost maxed out of space to bury all its waste. India alone generates at least 53 million tons of waste annually and some 3,159 ‘waste mountains’ exist across the country, according to a 2020 report by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment.

ग्रीष्म ऋतु स्वच्छ, शीत ऋतु बदतर

स्विस समूह IQAir द्वारा संकलित दुनिया के सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों की वास्तविक समय सूची में नई दिल्ली फिर से शीर्ष पर आ गई है, जिसने भारतीय राजधानी के वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक या AQI को 640 पर रखा है, जो “खतरनाक” श्रेणी में है। पाकिस्तानी शहर लाहौर में 335 तक। वर्ष 2023 के सर्दियों के महीने एक ऐसी अवधि थी जब दिल्ली-एनसीआर का क्षेत्र उच्च प्रदूषण स्तर की खाई में वापस चला गया – 2015-17 के बाद से वार्षिक PM2.5 सांद्रता में क्रमिक दीर्घकालिक सुधार देखने के बावजूद। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के एक नए विश्लेषण में कहा गया है कि स्वच्छ हवा और साफ आसमान की दिशा में आगे की प्रगति आंशिक रूप से मौसम संबंधी कारकों के कारण 2023 में रुक गई। दिल्ली में 2015-17 के बाद से अपने वार्षिक PM2.5 स्तरों में धीरे-धीरे लेकिन लगातार गिरावट देखी जा रही है, महामारी लॉकडाउन के कारण बड़े पैमाने पर व्यवधान के कारण 2020 एकमात्र अपवाद है। लेकिन यह गिरावट की गति 2023 में रुक गई। 2023 के लिए दिल्ली का PM2.5 वार्षिक औसत (29 दिसंबर, 2023 तक) 100.9 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर (µg/m3) था। यह 2022 के वार्षिक स्तर की तुलना में 2 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि थी, और असाधारण रूप से स्वच्छ 2020 की तुलना में 6 प्रतिशत अधिक थी। हालाँकि, स्तर उतने ऊंचे नहीं थे जितने पहले हुआ करते थे – 2018-22 सर्दियों का औसत है 2023 की सर्दियों की तुलना में अधिक। शहर के पांच सबसे पुराने सीएएक्यूएमएस स्टेशनों (आईटीओ, आईएचबीएएस, मंदिर मार्ग, पंजाबी बाग और आरके पुरम) के बीच दीर्घकालिक तीन साल का औसत रुझान भी एक समान पैटर्न दिखाता है। यह 2021-23 का औसत अपने 2020-22 समकक्ष से लगभग 3 प्रतिशत अधिक है। 2023 में, लगभग 151 दिन राष्ट्रीय परिवेशी वायु गुणवत्ता मानक पर खरे उतरे। यह 2021 की प्रवृत्ति के समान था और 2020 (एक लॉकडाउन वर्ष) के बाद दूसरा था जब 174 दिन मानकों पर खरे उतरे थे। 2022 में केवल 117 दिन ही मानक पर खरे उतरे। इनमें से लगभग सभी स्वच्छ दिन गर्मी और मानसून के मौसम के दौरान देखे गए। 2023 में ‘अच्छी’ वायु गुणवत्ता वाले दिनों (जब स्तर मानक से 50 प्रतिशत कम हो) की संख्या में उल्लेखनीय गिरावट आई; यह 2022 में 41 दिनों की तुलना में 24 दिन रहा।

KAMISHENI YA BONDE LA ZIWA VICTORIA YAJA NA MRADI MPYA KUSAFISHA KINGO ZA ZIWA VICTORIA

KAMISHENI ya Bonde la Ziwa Victoria, inatarajia kutumia Dola za Marekani bilioni mbili kwaajili ya miradi mbalimbali ya kuweka mazingira safi ya ziwa hilo ambao utawezesha vijana wengi kupata ajira kutokana na shughuli mbalimba ambazo zitakuwa zikiendelea kufanyika. Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari leo Januari 23,2024 Jijini Dar es Salaam, Ofisa Miradi wa Kamisheni ya Bonde la Ziwa Victoria, Bi.Hilda Luoga amesema wanaangalia maendeleo endelevu ya Ziwa Victoria kwa kuandaa mikakati ya mradi kwa kutatua changamoto na kukabili uchafuzi wa mazingira ya ziwa hilo kwa majitaka yanayotoka kwenye makazi ya watu na kwenye viwanda na matumizi mabaya ya ardhi. Aidha amesema kuwa Benki kuu ya Dunia (WB) imekuwa ikifadhili Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda na Burundi katika miradi ya kukabiliana na uchafuzi wa ziwa na mwaka 2020 ilifanya utafiti wakakuta kuna vyanzo vikuu vitatu kwenye ziwa hilo. "WB ilibaini kuwa uchafuzi huo unatokana na vyanzo vikuu vitatu ambavyo ni majitaka kwenye makazi, kutoka kwenye viwanda na matumizi mabaya ya ardhi". Amesema Kwa Upande wake Meneja wa Tafiti za mazingira akimwakilisha Mkurugenzi wa NEMC Bi.Rose Salema Mtui amesema Baraza la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC), kwa kushirikiana na Taasisi ya Sayansi na Mazingira (CSE) ya India, wameendelea na mkutano wa wadau wa Mazingira wa ziwa Victoria kutoka Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Mashirika ya kikanda, Wizara, Mikoa na Halmasahauri kwa lengo la kujadili utekelezaji wa mkakati wa usimamizi wa mazingira wa Ziwa hilo. Programu hiyo ya Pamoja ya Usimamizi wa Rasilimali za Maji ya Ziwa Victoria katika mradi huo unatarajiwa kugusa maeneo muhimu yanayochochea uchaguzi wa maji ambayo ni Homabay-Kenya, Entebbe-Uganda na Mwanza-Tanzania.

DOLA BILIONI MBILI KUTUMIKA KUBORESHA MIRADI YA USAFI WA MAZINGIRA ZIWA VICTORIA

KAMISHENI ya Bonde la Ziwa Victoria, inatarajia kutumia Dola za Marekani bilioni mbili kwaajili ya miradi mbalimbali ya kuweka mazingira safi ya ziwa hilo ambao utawezesha vijana wengi kupata ajira kutokana na shughuli mbalimba ambazo zitakuwa zikiendelea kufanyika. Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari leo Januari 23,2024 Jijini Dar es Salaam, Ofisa Miradi wa Kamisheni ya Bonde la Ziwa Victoria, Bi.Hilda Luoga amesema wanaangalia maendeleo endelevu ya Ziwa Victoria kwa kuandaa mikakati ya mradi kwa kutatua changamoto na kukabili uchafuzi wa mazingira ya ziwa hilo kwa majitaka yanayotoka kwenye makazi ya watu na kwenye viwanda na matumizi mabaya ya ardhi. Aidha amesema kuwa Benki kuu ya Dunia (WB) imekuwa ikifadhili Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda na Burundi katika miradi ya kukabiliana na uchafuzi wa ziwa na mwaka 2020 ilifanya utafiti wakakuta kuna vyanzo vikuu vitatu kwenye ziwa hilo. "WB ilibaini kuwa uchafuzi huo unatokana na vyanzo vikuu vitatu ambavyo ni majitaka kwenye makazi, kutoka kwenye viwanda na matumizi mabaya ya ardhi". Amesema Kwa Upande wake Meneja wa Tafiti za mazingira akimwakilisha Mkurugenzi wa NEMC Bi.Rose Salema Mtui amesema Baraza la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC), kwa kushirikiana na Taasisi ya Sayansi na Mazingira (CSE) ya India, wameendelea na mkutano wa wadau wa Mazingira wa ziwa Victoria kutoka Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Mashirika ya kikanda, Wizara, Mikoa na Halmasahauri kwa lengo la kujadili utekelezaji wa mkakati wa usimamizi wa mazingira wa Ziwa hilo. Programu hiyo ya Pamoja ya Usimamizi wa Rasilimali za Maji ya Ziwa Victoria katika mradi huo unatarajiwa kugusa maeneo muhimu yanayochochea uchaguzi wa maji ambayo ni Homabay-Kenya, Entebbe-Uganda na Mwanza-Tanzania.